MARRIAGE. An “inviolable institution” and “the foundation of the family”, according to the Philippine Constitution. The Philippines is the only country in the world, outside the Vatican, that does not have a divorce law. Pope Francis in Manila said, “The family is also threatened by growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of marriage, by a lack of openness to life.”

Registered marriages: from 577K in 2000, these went down to 492K in 2009 then to 476K in 2011.

Separated and Divorce: from 558K in 2000, these went up to 893K in 2010 (60% increase)

Annulments: from 5250 in 2010, up to 10,528 in 2012 (100% increase)

Support for Divorce Law: from 43-44% support in 2005, to 60% support in 2014 (SWS)

Morality of Divorce: Total of 32% say that it is morally acceptable (25%) and a non-moral issue (7%), as against 67% who find it morally unacceptable (PEW survey of 2013)

Quick reply to same-sex unions as marriage: While marriage is (1) procreative, (2) complementary, (3) sensitive to the needs of a child to be raised by his own father and mother, same-sex union is (1) non-procreative, (2) non-complementary, and (3) not sensitive to the needs of a child to be raised by his own father and mother.

CHILDREN AS BLESSINGS. A proverb of Masbate says: A child is a grace given by the Lord to a married couple. An Ilokano proverb says: A child is the wealth of the poor. The Catholic Catechism says: Large families are a sign of God’s blessings and the parents’ generosity. (CCC 2373) Pope Francis in Manila raised the alarm of “the threat of the destruction of the family through the privation of children.”

Fertility rate (no. children per woman): From 7.4 children in 1965, to 5.98 in 1975, to 4.14 in 1995, to 3.09 in 2015.

Contraceptive prevalence rate (% of women ages 15-49 using contraception): From 15.40% in 1968, to 36.2% in 1978, to 50.70% in 1995, to 55.10% in 2013

Morality of contraception: Total of 69% find them morally acceptable (60%) and a non-moral issue (9%); Only 29% morally unacceptable. (Pew survey of 2013)

Use of abortifacients: 26.3% of married women use abortifacients: 19.8% use pills, 3.4% injectables, 3.1% IUD (2011)

Engaged in Premarital Sex among 15-24yos: From 23% in 1994 (26.1% of boys and only 10.2% of girls) to 32% (35.5 boys and 28.7% of girls)

Morality of Premarital Sex: A total of 27% find it morally acceptable (20%) and a non-moral issue (7%); 71% say it is morally unacceptable.

Living Together or Cohabitation: From 5.2% of women 15yos and above in 1993 to 8% in 2003.

Production of child pornography: Philippines is among the top 10 countries producing online child pornography

Search for sex in the internet: Philippines among top 10countries (Google Trends)

Exposure to pornography: 56.5% of Filipinos aged 15 to 24 years old have been exposed to pornographic videos

Quick reply to cohabitation: According to extensive research, cohabition is “the worst possible preparation for marriage” and is “a training for divorce.” Cohabiting couples have less income, are less happier, and have more problematic children than married couples.